Image forming apparatus and recording medium

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes an installer portion, the installer portion being capable of installing a translation data application and an add-on application on the image forming apparatus, the add-on application for customizing functions of the image forming apparatus. The translation data application is capable of storing at least one of plural translation data files, the translation data files classified into groups each containing one or more terms in one or more languages. The translation data application includes: a program for the image forming apparatus to install the translation data file from a server; and a definition file specifying an access method for the add-on application to access the translation data application. Upon activation, the add-on application performs the following operations: accessing the translation data application by the access method; extracting a target term in a target language from the translation data file; and generating a display screen.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2015-097348 filed on May 12, 2015, the entire disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to: an image forming apparatus such as amultifunctional digital image forming apparatus (i.e., a multi-functionperipheral abbreviated as MFP) having multiple functions, e.g., copierfunction, printer function, facsimile function, and scanner function;and a recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

The following description sets forth the inventor's knowledge of relatedart and problems therein and should not be construed as an admission ofknowledge in the prior art.

While users can purchase add-on applications (also to be referred to as“add-on apps” for short) for customizing functions of image formingapparatuses as described above, which are provided by third-partyvendors, there have been well-known image forming apparatuses having aconfiguration allowing users to install such add-on apps.

FIG. 11 illustrates how such a well-known image forming apparatusinstalls add-on apps. A user purchases add-on apps A, B, and C providedby vendors A, B, and C, respectively, and installs them on a MFP 1000.As referred to FIG. 11, the MFP 1000 has a storage device 1100, and theadd-on apps A, B, and C are stored on directories A0000001, A0000002,and A0000003 in the storage device 1100, respectively.

The add-on apps A, B, and C are configured not to access each other forsecurity purposes.

Upon activation, the add-on app A, B, and C generate a display screen tobe displayed on a display panel; for example, they generate a settingsscreen showing various terms such as function names and setting items.In order to promote the MFP 1000 in different countries and regions, itis preferred that the add-on apps A, B, and C be localized to a ship-tocountry or region of the MFP 1000 and be configured to displayinformation on a display screen in a suitable language for the ship-tocountry or region.

To localize the add-on apps A, B, and C to a ship-to destination, it canbe a solution for the add-on apps A, B, and C to include their owntranslation data files. This solution, however, brings another problemas described below.

When the add-on apps A, B, and C include their own translation datafiles, these translation data files are largely the same because of thesame function names and setting items of the MFP 1000. As referred toFIG. 12, the add-on apps A, B, and C are stored on the directoriesA0000001, A0000002, and A0000003 in the storage device 1100 of the MFP1000, respectively. When the add-on apps A, B, and C include their owntranslation data files 1200 (each contains English and Japanese stringsfor each term identified by a term ID in the example of FIG. 12), thesetranslation data files 1200, which are largely the same, are also storedon the directories as resource data files. This can cause the problem ofan inefficient use of memory space in the storage device 1100. Normally,every vendor is in responsible for localization of its own add-on app.So, the vendors A, B, and C separately do their localizations andprepare their own translation data files, which is not advantageous froman efficiency perspective.

It can be another solution for the MFP 1000 to store the translationdata files on its firmware. This solution, however, brings yet anotherproblem as described below. The MFP 1000 is subject to a technical fieldservice for firmware update in order to have a new translation data fileor update the existing translation data files. The MFP 1000 furtherneeds to store a conversion database for mapping necessary terms fromthe translation data files. The translation data files contain differentterms and term IDs for identifying the terms depending on the model theysupport. When the translation data files contain terms in too manylanguages for a ship-to destination of one single language, this causesthe problem of an inefficient use of the hardware resources of the MFP1000.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2000-207395discloses a Japanese analysis device that performs a word determiningprocess using the converter information input to a character converterdevice and the indexes of a character conversion dictionary and aJapanese analysis dictionary. By consolidating the indexes of thesedictionaries, the Japanese analysis device is capable of making morememory space available and thus saving the resources of informationapparatuses.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. H01-042770suggests a language analysis device that performs a descriptionconversion process and a description analysis in an efficient mannerwithout the need for an extra memory for a dictionary.

The techniques disclosed in these publications are not indented tolocalize the add-on apps A, B, and C to a ship-to destination. So, thesepublications cannot provide a solution to the problem of when the add-onapps A, B, and C include their own translation data files, and alsocannot provide a solution to the problem of when the MFP 1000 storestheir translation data files on its firmware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The description herein of advantages and disadvantages of variousfeatures, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed in otherpublications is in no way intended to limit the present invention.Indeed, certain features of the invention may be capable of overcomingcertain disadvantages, while still retaining some or all of thefeatures, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed therein.

A first aspect of the present invention relates to an image formingapparatus comprising an installer portion, the installer portion beingcapable of installing a translation data application and an add-onapplication on the image forming apparatus, the add-on application forcustomizing functions of the image forming apparatus, wherein:

the translation data application installed by the installer portion iscapable of storing at least one of plural translation data files, thetranslation data files each containing one or more terms in one or morelanguages, the translation data files being classified into groups;

the translation data application includes:

a program for the image forming apparatus to download and install atleast one of the translation data files from an external server, theexternal server storing at least one of the translation data files; and

a definition file specifying an access method for the add-on applicationto access the translation data application; and

upon activation of the add-on application installed by the installerportion, the add-on application performs the following operations:

accessing the translation data application by the access methodspecified by the definition file, the definition file being included inthe translation data application;

extracting a target term in a target language from the translation datafile; and

generating a display screen using the extracted term.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium storing a translation dataapplication under the conditions such that it is executable, thetranslation data application being installed on an image formingapparatus, the translation data application providing a translation datafile to an add-on application, the add-on application for customizingfunctions of the image forming apparatus, wherein:

the translation data application is capable of storing at least one ofplural translation data files, the translation data files eachcontaining one or more terms in one or more languages, the translationdata files being classified into groups; and

the translation data application includes:

a program for the image forming apparatus to download and install atleast one of the translation data files from an external server, theexternal server storing at least one of the translation data files; and

a definition file specifying an access method for the add-on applicationto access the translation data application.

The above and/or other aspects, features and/or advantages of variousembodiments will be further appreciated in view of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Variousembodiments can include and/or exclude different aspects, featuresand/or advantages where applicable. In addition, various embodiments cancombine one or more aspect or feature of other embodiments whereapplicable. The descriptions of aspects, features and/or advantages ofparticular embodiments should not be construed as limiting otherembodiments or the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way ofexample, and not limitation, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a network system including animage forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a translation data application and theoperations to be performed by the image forming apparatus afterinstallation of the translation data application;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the translation data file;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining how the add-on application generatesa display screen after the image forming apparatus downloads thetranslation data application and the add-on application from a server;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of translation data files classified intocopier function group and facsimile function group;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of translation data files classified intolanguage groups;

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram representing how the add-on applicationinstalled on the image forming apparatus negotiates with the translationdata application to extract a term;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart representing how the image forming apparatusinstalls the translation data application;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart representing how the image forming apparatusinstalls the add-on application;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart representing how the image forming apparatusinstalls an optional data package that is a bundle of translation datafiles classified into function groups, as instructed by a program of thetranslation data application;

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining how a conventional image formingapparatus installs the add-on applications; and

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining problems with the conventional imageforming apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following paragraphs, some preferred embodiments of the inventionwill be described by way of example and not limitation. It should beunderstood based on this disclosure that various other modifications canbe made by those in the art based on these illustrated embodiments.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a network system including animage forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. This network system is provided with an image formingapparatus 1 and a server 2 connected to a network 3 such as theInternet.

In this embodiment, a MFP, having various functions such as copierfunction, printer function, scanner function, and facsimile function asdescribed above, is employed as the image forming apparatus 1.Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 1 will also be referred to asMFP 1.

The MFP 1 is essentially provided with a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103,a storage device 104, a system controller 105, an input device manager106, an output device manager 107, an operation panel 108, a networkinterface (network I/F) 109, an external application manager 110, anexternal application execution portion 111, a translation data accessmanager 112, and a Web server portion 113. These elements areinterconnected through a system bus.

The CPU 101 controls the MFP 1 in a unified and systematic manner byexecuting programs stored on a recording medium such as the ROM 102. TheCPU 101 further executes a translation data application and add-onapplications which will later be described in details.

The ROM 102 stores programs for the CPU 101 to execute and other data.

The RAM 103 serves as a work area for the CPU 101 to load programs, andtemporarily stores programs, data for executing the programs, and otherdata.

The storage device 104 is comprised of a hard disk drive (HDD) andstores applications and data of various types.

The system controller 105 is essentially comprised of theabove-described CPU 101, ROM 102, and RAM 103 and controls the entiresystem of copier function, printer function, scanner function, and otherfunctions of the MFP 1.

The input device manager 106 is provided with a scanner, for example,and obtains a document image by scanning a document put on a platen andconverts it into image data format.

The output device manager 107 is provided with a printer, for example,and forms a reproduced image on a sheet of paper.

The operation panel 108 allows users to give instructions for a job, forexample, to the MFP 1 and configure various settings of the MFP 1. Theoperation panel 108 is essentially provided with a display 108 a havinga touch panel.

The network interface 109 serves as a communication portion thatsupports data communications with the server 2.

The external application manager 110 installs and uninstallsapplications and manages applications installed on the MFP 1. Theexternal application manager 110 further controls operations such thatonly an add-on application allowed to access a translation dataapplication is installed on the MFP 1, which will be later described indetails.

The external application execution portion 111 is comprised of arun-time library for applications to run and a group of modules such asa screen display module. The external application execution portion 111includes a Web browser 111 a.

The translation data access manager 112 is a group of modules serving asan intermediary for add-on applications to access a translation dataapplication. The translation data access manager 112 includes a DLLwhich will be later described in details. The translation data accessmanager 112 further controls operations such that only an add-onapplication allowed to access the translation data application accessesthe translation data application, which will be later described indetails.

The Web server portion 113 provides a Web server capability to the MFP1.

Hereinafter, applications also will be referred to as “apps” for short.

An add-on app is an app for customizing functions of the MFP 1, such asprinter function and scanner function, and third-party vendors and amanufacturer of the MFP 1 provide add-on apps. In this embodiment, theMFP 1 has a configuration allowing users to purchase, download, andinstall a desirable add-on app from the server 2.

A translation data application includes a translation data filecontaining terms in one or more languages in order to localize theadd-on apps to a ship-to country or region of the MFP 1. The add-on appsshare this translation data file, and do not need anymore to includetheir own translation databases. The translation data applicationfurther includes a definition file that specifies an access method forthe add-on apps to access the translation data app and that includes afunction that specifies a term and a language by which the add-on appscan extract strings from the translation data file. The translation dataapp will be later described in details.

In this embodiment, upon instructions from the user, the MFP 1 downloadsand installs a translation data app from the server 2.

The server 2 is comprised of a personal computer, for example. Theserver 2 is essentially and functionally provided with a Web serverportion 21, an apps/translation data manager 22, and a CGI processor 23.

The Web server portion 21 transmits an add-on app, a translation dataapp, and another application to the MFP 1 through the network 3 asrequested by the Web browser 111 a of the MFP 1.

The apps/translation data manager 22 stores multiple add-on apps, atranslation data app, and translation data files each containing termsin multiple languages and each being classified into a function group.The apps/translation data manager 22 further manages destinations of theadd-on apps and the translation data app.

When the Web server portion 21 receives a request for the translationdata app from the MFP 1, the common gateway interface (CGI) processor 23activates a program to start a process requested by the Web serverportion 21.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a translation data application 300 andthe operation to be performed by the MFP 1 after installation of thetranslation data application 300.

The translation data app 300 includes a definition file 301 thatspecifies an access method for the add-on apps to access the translationdata app 300 and that includes a function that specifies a term and alanguage by which the add-on apps can extract strings. The translationdata app 300 further includes a translation data file 302(“resource.dat”).

As referred to FIG. 2, the definition file 301 contains the followinginformation: an app ID (“applicationID”) that is identificationinformation of the translation data app 300; version information(“version”); module information (“module”); an application programminginterface (API) information; and an allowed app ID.

The app ID, which is identification information of the translation dataapp 300, uniquely defines the translation data app 300. The app ID alsodefines the translation data app 300 as being of the category oftranslation data app. The app ID includes a preset flag (the code “IDB”in the example of FIG. 2). The MFP 1 is configured to judge an apphaving this flag as being accessible from the add-on apps. The app IDalso verifies the authenticity of the translation data app 300. To avoidthe risk of being rewritten, the app ID may be embedded in a certificateform of the translation data app 300, not in the definition file 301. Inthis case, the MFP 1 refers to the certificate form to find out the appID during installation of the translation data app 300.

The version information represents the version of the translation dataapp 300

The module information specifies a link to a dynamic link library (DLL)that is a module as an access method for the add-on apps to access thetranslation data app 300. In this embodiment, the DLL “LangData.dll” isreferenced by the link. The DLL is pre-installed on the MFP 1: thetranslation data access manager 112, for example, originally stores theDLL before shipment of the MFP 1. Alternatively, the translation dataapp 300 may originally include the DLL. In this case, the MFP 1 obtainsa copy of it during installation of the translation data app 300.

The API information represents a function that specifies a term and alanguage by which the add-on apps can extract strings from thetranslation data file 302. In this embodiment, an add-on app specifies aterm ID (“LangID”) and a language (“lang”) by the function “GetLangData(LangID, lang)” and accesses the translation data app 300.

The allowed app ID is identification information of an add-on appallowed to access the translation data app 300. The allowed app IDserves as definition information defining the add-on apps as being ornot being allowed to access the translation data app 300.

As referred to FIG. 2, the translation data file 302, which is includedin the translation data app 300, contains term IDs (“LangID”) foridentifying terms and also contains strings in different languages(English and Japanese strings in the example of FIG. 2) for each term.For example, English and Japanese strings are prepared for the term“scan settings” identified by the term ID “ID_1”; other English andJapanese strings are prepared for the term “paper size” identified bythe term ID “ID_2”; yet other English and Japanese strings are preparedfor the term “color setting” identified by the term ID “ID_3”.

As referred to FIG. 2, upon instructions from the user, the MFP 1downloads and installs the translation data app 300 from the server 2.The MFP 1 stores the translation data app 300 on the storage device 104.When the translation data app 300 is not installed, the DLL indicated inthe module information in the definition file 301, which is included inthe translation data app 300, is disabled. Upon installation of thetranslation data app 300, the DLL is enabled by being loaded in a systemof the MFP 1 such as the RAM 103.

As described above, the DLL is disabled until installation of thetranslation data app 300, which will eliminate the risk of rewriting ordeleting data accidentally. Furthermore, upon installation of thetranslation data app 300, the DLL is enabled by being loaded in a systemof the MFP 1. With this configuration, the MFP 1 can keep more memoryspace available until installation of the translation data app 300.

When the user gives instructions for installation of a necessary add-onapp, the MFP 1 downloads and installs it from the server 2. The MFP 1stores the add-on app on the storage device 104. When the user activatesthe add-on app stored on the storage device 104 (the add-on app storedon the directory A0000001 in FIG. 2, for example) by executing theexecution file “getdata.exe”, the add-on app references the DLL that isa module by the link. The add-on app specifies a term ID and a languageby the function “GetLangData (LangID, lang)” in the definition file 301,accesses the translation data app 300, and extracts strings by thespecified term ID and language from the translation data file 302. Theadd-on app generates a display screen using the extracted strings todisplay on the display 108 a.

When the definition file 301 defines the add-on app (the add-on appstored on the directory A0000002 in FIG. 2, for example) as not beingallowed to access, the add-on app is prohibited from accessing thetranslation data app 300. Alternatively, when the definition file 301defines the add-on app as not being allowed to access, the add-on appmay be prohibited from being installed on the MFP 1.

As referred to FIG. 3, the translation data file 302 may include iconimages each representing a term to show on a display screen, in additionto strings in different languages for each term. In this case, theadd-on app extracts an icon image by a specified term ID and type ofimage. An icon image data file, instead of the translation data file302, may contain these icon images.

In this case, the add-on applications share the icon images as well asthe translation data file 302. The add-on applications can extract anicon image to show on a display screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining how an add-on app 400 generates adisplay screen after the MFP 1 downloads the translation data app 300and the add-on app 400 from the server 2.

The server 2 stores the translation data app 300, the add-on app 400,and an optional data package 700 for the translation data app 300.

The add-on app 400 includes a program 401 for the add-on app 400 to run.

The optional data package 700 is a bundle of translation data filesclassified into function groups. Specifically, the translation datapackage 700 contains a translation data file 701 devoted to copierfunction, a translation data file 702 devoted to scanner function, and atranslation data file 703 devoted to facsimile function.

The translation data app 300 includes the definition file 301 and thetranslation data file 302 devoted to common processes of all functionsas a standard feature, as described above. The translation data app 300further includes a program 303 for the MFP 1 to download and install thetranslation data files 701 to 703 classified into function groups fromthe optional data package 700. In addition to or instead of thetranslation data file 302 devoted to common processes of all functions,the translation data app 300 may include a translation data file devotedto apparatus information as a standard feature.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the translation data file 701 devotedto copier function and the translation data file 703 devoted tofacsimile function. The translation data file 701 contains terms ID foridentifying copier-related terms and strings in different languages foreach term, and the translation data file 703 contains term IDs foridentifying facsimile-related terms and strings in different languagesfor each term. The optional data package 700 may include a translationdata file classified into an authentication process group, in additionto the translation data files 701 to 703 classified into copier functiongroup, scanner function group, and facsimile function group,respectively.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a change is made to the configuration ofthe

MFP 1 or the add-on apps 400 installed on the MFP 1. When a change ismade, the MFP 1 downloads the translation data file 701, 702, or 703 asnecessary from the optional data package 700 stored on the server 2, inaccordance with the program 303 of the translation data app 300installed on the MFP 1. For example, when the add-on app 400 isinstalled and the function information of the add-on app 400 indicatesthat it is related to copier function, the MFP 1 downloads and installsthe translation data file 701 devoted to copier function from theoptional data package 700 stored on the server 2. When the add-on app400 is related to scanner function, the MFP 1 downloads and installs thetranslation data file 702 devoted to scanner function. In the example ofFIG. 4, the MFP 1 downloads and installs the translation data file 701devoted to copier function.

The MFP 1 may check all standard and optional functions installed on theMFP 1 itself, then download and install a translation data file devotedto a new function. For example, when facsimile function is added to theMFP 1, the MFP 1 downloads and installs the translation data file 703devoted to facsimile function.

The user gives instructions for installation of the translation data app300, the MFP 1 then downloads and installs it from the server 2. Uponinstallation of the translation data app 300, a DLL 501 is enabled bybeing loaded in a system 500 of the MFP 1.

After successful installation of the translation data app 300, the userfurther gives instructions for installation of the desirable add-on app400. The MFP 1 then downloads and installs it from the server 2.

Upon activation of the add-on app 400 installed on the MFP 1, the add-onapp 400 references the DLL 501 by the link. The add-on app 400 specifiesa term ID and a language by the function “GetLangData (LangID, lang)”and accesses the translation data app 300 in accordance with the DLL501. The add-on app 400 obtains strings 602 by the specified term ID andlanguage from the translation data file 302 which is included in thetranslation data app 300. For a better processing efficiency, thetranslation data file 302 may be expanded in the RAM 103.

The add-on app 400 generates a display screen by using its own userinterface (UI) 601 to lay out the strings 602 on the display screen. Agraphical user interface (GUI) 600 of the MFP 1 receives the displayscreen, and the Web browser 111 a shows the display screen on thedisplay 108 a.

In this embodiment, the MFP 1 is further provided with a proxy portion502. The proxy portion 502 serves as an intermediary that blocks theadd-on apps 400 from directly accessing the translation data app 300 andalso blocks the add-on apps 400 from directly accessing each other. Thiswill improve security.

In the example of FIG. 4, the optional data package 700 is a bundle ofthe translation data files 701 to 703 classified into function groups ofthe MFP 1. Alternatively, the optional data package 700 may be a bundleof translation data files 704 and 705 classified into language groups asreferred to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the language datafile 704 devoted to English and the translation data file 705 devoted toJapanese. The server 2 stores the language data files 704 and 705devoted to languages. To localize the add-on apps 400 to a ship-tocountry or region, the MFP 1 can download and install the translationdata file 704 or 705 as necessary from the server 2. The translationdata files 704 and 705 may be a language data package that is a bundleof smaller translation data files each classified into function group.

As described above, for example, the translation data file 302 isclassified into common processes group of all functions or to apparatusinformation, the translation data files 701 to 703 are classified intofunction groups, and the translation data files 704 and 705 areclassified into language groups. The translation data app 300 includes anecessary translation data file, and the server 2 stores the optionaldata package 700 that is a bundle of translation data files. Thetranslation data app 300 includes the program 303 for the MFP 1 todownload and install a translation data file from the optional datapackage 700. In accordance with the program 303, the MFP 1 can downloadand install a translation data file as necessary from the optional datapackage 400 stored on the server 2. The translation data app 300includes only as many translation data files as necessary, and the MFP 1can keep more memory space available without the need of storing alltranslation data files on the storage device 104. With thisconfiguration, the MFP 1 can save its hardware resources.

In other words, the MFP 1 possibly stores a huge amount of translationdata because of having many functions. When the translation data app 300including all translation data files is installed on the MFP 1, thetranslation data app 300 uses a large part of the hardware resources ofthe MFP 1. This can make some features of other MFP functions subject tolimitations since other MFP functions also use the hardware resources.For example, image scanning can be limited to small sizes, only a smallnumber of new apps can be installed, and only a small number ofdocuments can be stored in a box that is a memory area. To avoid thisrisk, the MFP 1 downloads only as many translation data files asnecessary from the optional data package 700 that is a bundle oftranslation data files each devoted to a group. With this configuration,the MFP 1 can save its hardware resources.

The MFP 1 may uninstall a translation data file that is no morenecessary.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram representing how the add-on app 400installed on the MFP 1 negotiates with the translation data app 400 toextract a term.

The add-on app 400 references the DLL 501. The add-on app 400 specifiesa term and a language by the function “GetLangData (LangID, lang)” andrequests the DLL 501 for access to the translation data app 300 (StepS1). The DLL 501 transfers the function “GetLangData (LangID, lang)” tothe translation data app 300 (Step S2).

The translation data app 300 extracts strings (“scan settings” in theexample of FIG. 5) by the specified term ID and language from thetranslation data file 302 and returns the strings to the DLL 501 (StepS3). The DLL 501 transfers the strings to the add-on app 400 (Step S4).The routine repeats these processes until completing all necessary termsfor a display screen. After completion of all necessary terms, theadd-on app 400 generates a display screen and transmits it to the Webserver portion 113 (Step S5). The Web server portion 113 transfers thescreen display to the Web browser 111 a (Step S6). The Web browser 111 ashows the display screen on the display 108 a.

The add-on app 400 may not request to extract strings by a specifiedterm and language; that is, the add-on app 400 may request to extractall strings from the translation data file. In this case, the Webbrowser 111 a receives all the strings, and the add-on app 400 requeststhe Web browser 111 a to select strings by a specified term and languageand lay them out at specified positions on a display screen.

As described above, in this embodiment, the translation data app 300 hasa data structure including the definition file 301. The definition file301 specifies a link to the DLL 501 as an access method for the add-onapps 400 to access the translation data app 300 and includes a functionthat specifies a term and a language by which the add-on apps 400 canextract strings from the translation data file 302. Upon activation ofthe add-on app 400 installed on the MFP 1, the add-on app 400 referencesthe DLL 501 by the link. The add-on app 400 then performs the followingoperations: accessing the translation data app 300, extracting aspecified term in a specified language from the translation data file302 by the function, and generating a display screen using the obtainedterm. The add-on apps 400 can generate a display screen using the sametranslation data file 302 which is included in the translation data app300. This means, the add-on apps 400 do not need anymore to includetheir own language data files. So, this will be a solution to theproblem of an inefficient use of memory space in the storage device 104.Furthermore, the vendors of the add-on apps 400 do not have toseparately do their localizations and prepare their own translation datafiles. Since the add-on apps 400 share one translation database, theadd-on apps 400 can generate a display screen using the same terms.

Furthermore, while the MFP 1 does not store the translation data fileson its firmware, the translation data app 300 includes the translationdata file 302. The MFP 1 is not subject anymore to a technical fieldservice for firmware update in order to have a new translation data fileor update the existing translation data files. The MFP 1 does not needto store a conversion database for mapping necessary terms from thetranslation data files.

Furthermore, the add-on app 400 accesses the translation data app 300not in a direct manner, but by the access method specified in thedefinition file 301 which is included in the translation data app 300.The add-on app 400 then extracts a specified term in a specifiedlanguage from the translation data file 302 by the function. This means,the add-on apps 400 provided by third-party vendors can share thetranslation data file 302 without compromising security.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart representing how the MFP 1 installs thetranslation data app 300.

In Step S01, instructions for installation of an application arereceived. In Step S02, it is judged whether or not it is the translationdata app 300. The judgment on whether or not it is the translation dataapp 300 depends on the app ID in the definition file 301.

If it is the translation data app 300 (YES in Step S02), the function(access function) represented by the API information is enabled in StepS03. The routine then continues the installation in Step S04. Back toStep S02, if it is not the translation data app 300 (NO in Step S02),the routine skips to Step S04 to continue the installation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart representing how the MFP 1 installs the add-on app400.

In this embodiment, similar to the previous embodiment, the definitionfile 301 includes an allowed app ID, and the add-on app 400 not havingthe allowed app ID in the definition file 301 is prohibited fromaccessing the translation data app 300 or from being installed on theMFP 1.

More specifically, the MFP 1 needs to have a configuration such that thetranslation data file 302 included in the translation data app 300 isused in a proper manner. The translation data file 302 containsdifferent terms depending on the time or the model it supports. So, theadd-on apps 400 may obtain an incorrect term from the translation datafile 302 to show on a display screen, which is confusing to the user.Furthermore, the add-on apps 400 may access the translation data app 300not to extract a term from the translation data file 302 because ofmalfunction, which could make the MFP 1 perform unintended operations.

As a solution to these problems, the definition file 301 includes anallowed app ID of the add-on app 400 allowed to access the translationdata app 300. When the definition file 301 defines the add-on app 400 asnot being allowed to access, the add-on app 400 is prohibited from beinginstalled on the MFP 1. Alternatively, when the definition file 301defines the add-on app 400 as not being allowed to access, the add-onapp 400 may be prohibited from accessing the translation data app 300.Prohibiting the add-on app 400 from accessing the translation data app300 will be an effective solution when the add-on app 400 is installedbefore the translation data app 300.

In this embodiment, the translation data app 300 includes information ofits version, and the add-on apps 400 include information of the versionof the translation data app 300 they support. During installation of theadd-on app 400 from the server 2, even when the definition file 301defines the add-on app 400 as being allowed to access, the MFP 1 judgeswhether or not the version of the add-on app 400 matches the version ofthe translation data app 300. Only if that matches it, the MFP 1continues installation of the add-on app 400. If the version informationof the add-on app 400 does not match the version of the translation dataapp 300, the MFP 1 may transmit a notice of the version of thetranslation data app 300 to the server 2 in order to receive a properversion of the add-on app 400 from the server 2.

Referring to FIG. 9, in Step S11, instructions for installation of theadd-on app 400 are received. In Step S12, it is judged whether or not itis the add-on app 400 allowed to access the translation data app 300.The judgment on whether or not it is the add-on app 400 allowed toaccess the translation data app 300 depends on the allowed app ID in thedefinition file 301 which is included in the translation data app 300.

If it is the add-on app 400 allowed to access the translation data app300 (YES in Step S12), it is then judged in Step S13 whether or not theversion of the add-on app 400 matches the version of the translationdata app 300. If that matches it (YES in Step S13), the routinecontinues the installation in Step S04.

In Step S12, it may be the add-on app 400 not allowed to access thetranslation data app 300 (NO in Step S12). In Step S13, the version ofthe add-on app 400 may mismatch the version of the translation data app300 (NO in Step S13). In either case, the routine proceeds to Step S15to suspend the installation.

FIG. 10 relates to the embodiment of FIG. 4. This is a flowchartrepresenting how the MFP downloads and installs the translation datafile 701, 702 or 703 devoted to a function from the optional datapackage 700 stored on the server 2, in accordance with the program 303of the translation data app 300.

In Step S31, it is judged whether or not a change is made to theconfiguration of the MFP 1 or the add-on app 400 installed on the MFP 1.When a new function is added to the MFP 1 or an existing function isremoved from the MFP 1, for example, it is judged that a change is madeto the configuration of the MFP 1. When the add-on app 400 is installedon the MFP 1 or uninstalled, for example, it is judged that a change ismade to the add-on app 400 installed on the MFP 1.

If a change is made to the configuration of the MFP 1 or the add-on app400 installed on the MFP 1 (YES in Step S31), it is further judged inStep S32 whether or not it is necessary to download the translation datafile 701, 702, or 703 or to remove an existing translation data file, bycomparing the translation data files installed on the MFP 1 to theconfiguration of the MFP 1 or the add-on app 400 installed on the MFP 1.

If it is necessary to download the translation data file 701, 702, or703 or to remove an existing translation data file (YES in Step S32),the routine proceeds to Step S33, in which the translation data file701, 702, or 703 is downloaded and installed from the server 2, or theexisting translation data file is uninstalled from the MFP 1.

In Step S31, no change may be made to the configuration of the MFP 1 orthe add-on app 400 installed on the MFP 1 (NO in Step S31). In Step S32,it may be unnecessary to download the translation data files 701 to 703or to remove the translation data files installed on the MFP 1 (NO inStep S32). In either case, the routine immediately terminates.

The present invention, some embodiments of which are described above indetails, should not be limited to these embodiments.

For example, the MFP 1 downloads and installs the translation data app300 from the server 2 in these embodiments. Alternatively, the MFP 1 mayoriginally store the translation data app 300 on the ROM 102. In thiscase, the MFP 1 installs the translation data app 300 from the ROM 102when conditions allow execution of the translation data app 300. Thiswill be an effective solution when a necessary run-time library for thetranslation data app 300 to run is disabled by default, for example.

While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, anumber of illustrative embodiments are described herein with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered asproviding examples of the principles of the invention and such examplesare not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodimentsdescribed herein and/or illustrated herein.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, the present invention is not limited to the various preferredembodiments described herein, but includes any and all embodimentshaving equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g.of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterationsas would be appreciated by those in the art based on the presentdisclosure. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadlybased on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examplesdescribed in the present specification or during the prosecution of theapplication, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. Forexample, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” isnon-exclusive and means “preferably, but not limited to”. In thisdisclosure and during the prosecution of this application,means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only beemployed where for a specific claim limitation all of the followingconditions are present In that limitation: a) “means for” or “step for”is expressly recited; b) a corresponding function is expressly recited;and c) structure, material or acts that support that structure are notrecited. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of thisapplication, the terminology “present invention” or “invention” may beused as a reference to one or more aspect within the present disclosure.The language present invention or invention should not be improperlyinterpreted as an identification of criticality, should not beimproperly interpreted as applying across all aspects or embodiments(i.e., it should be understood that the present invention has a numberof aspects and embodiments), and should not be improperly interpreted aslimiting the scope of the application or claims. In this disclosure andduring the prosecution of this application, the terminology “embodiment”can be used to describe any aspect, feature, process or step, anycombination thereof, and/or any portion thereof, etc. In some examples,various embodiments may include overlapping features. In this disclosureand during the prosecution of this case, the following abbreviatedterminology may be employed: “e.g.” which means “for example”, and “NB”which means “note well”.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising aninstaller portion, the installer portion being capable of installing atranslation data application and an add-on application on the imageforming apparatus, the add-on application for customizing functions ofthe image forming apparatus, wherein: the translation data applicationinstalled by the installer portion is capable of storing at least one ofplural translation data files, the translation data files eachcontaining one or more terms in one or more languages, the translationdata files being classified into groups; the translation dataapplication includes: a program for the image forming apparatus todownload and install at least one of the translation data files from anexternal server, the external server storing at least one of thetranslation data files; and a definition file specifying an accessmethod for the add-on application to access the translation dataapplication; and upon activation of the add-on application installed bythe installer portion, the add-on application performs the followingoperations: accessing the translation data application by the accessmethod specified by the definition file, the definition file beingincluded in the translation data application; extracting a target termin a target language from the translation data file; and generating adisplay screen using the extracted term.
 2. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the translation data applicationoriginally includes at least one of the translation data files, theimage forming apparatus further being configured to download and installanother one of the translation data files from the external server inaccordance with the program.
 3. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a proxy function that serves as anintermediary that blocks the add-on application from directly accessingthe translation data application.
 4. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the external server stores the translationdata files, the translation data files being classified into functiongroups, the image forming apparatus further being configured to downloadand install the translation data file from the external server inaccordance with the program included in the translation dataapplication, the translation data file corresponding to a function ownedby the add-on application or the image forming apparatus.
 5. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external serverstores the translation data files, the translation data files beingclassified into language groups, the image forming apparatus furtherbeing configured to download and install one of the translation datafiles from the external server in accordance with the program includedin the translation data application, the translation data filecorresponding to a language requested by the add-on application.
 6. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the translationdata file or another data file included in the translation dataapplication contains icon images; and the add-on application extracts atarget icon image and generates a display screen using the extractedicon image.
 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe access method for the add-on application to access the translationdata application is a link to an internal module of the image formingapparatus, the access method being specified by the definition file. 8.The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the module isenabled upon installation of the translation data application.
 9. Anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a translationdata application under the conditions such that it is executable, thetranslation data application being installed on an image formingapparatus, the translation data application providing a translation datafile to an add-on application, the add-on application for customizingfunctions of the image forming apparatus, wherein: the translation dataapplication is capable of storing at least one of plural translationdata files, the translation data files each containing one or more termsin one or more languages, the translation data files being classifiedinto groups; and the translation data application includes: a programfor the image forming apparatus to download and install at least one ofthe translation data files from an external server, the external serverstoring at least one of the translation data files; and a definitionfile specifying an access method for the add-on application to accessthe translation data application.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein, uponactivation of the add-on application installed on the image formingapparatus, the add-on application performs the following operations:accessing the translation data application by the access methodspecified by the definition file, the definition file being included inthe translation data application; extracting a target term in a targetlanguage from the translation data file; and generating a display screenusing the extracted term.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium according to claim 9, wherein: the external serverstores the translation data files, the translation data files beingclassified into function groups; and the image forming apparatus isfurther configured to download and install the translation data filefrom the external server in accordance with the program included in thetranslation data application, the translation data file corresponding toa function owned by the add-on application or the image formingapparatus.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumaccording to claim 9, wherein: the external server stores thetranslation data files, the translation data files being classified intolanguage groups; and the image forming apparatus is further configuredto download and install one of the translation data files from theexternal server in accordance with the program included in thetranslation data application, the translation data file corresponding toa language requested by the add-on application.
 13. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein: thetranslation data file or another data file included in the translationdata application contains icon images; and the add-on applicationextracts a target icon image and generates a display screen using theextracted icon image.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium according to claim 9, wherein the access method for the add-onapplication to access the translation data application is a link to aninternal module of the image forming apparatus, the access method beingspecified by the definition file.